Sun Pharma, ICMR ink pact for Malaria Free India initiative

 
According to J P Nadda, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, added, “The first of its kind public-private-agreement between ICMR & Sun Pharma reiterates India’s commitment to eliminate malaria. ICMR and Sun Pharma will aim to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by malaria in this demonstration project as well as prevention of re-introduction of malaria. The lessons learned would be used for elimination of malaria from the country by the national program.”
 
Malaria is not uniformly distributed in India and 6 states are responsible for more than 60 percent malaria in the country. These are Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Northeastern states. About 91 districts in India, having 5 percent of country’s total population, 31 percent of tribal population are high burden districts contributing nearly half of malaria cases and deaths. Studies done by ICMR have shown that a holistic strategy can reduce malaria burden significantly within a few years, in a defined area. The proposed public-private partnership for malaria elimination will use the same available and tested strategies of case management (diagnosing and treating all symptomatic and asymptomatic cases through mass screening), intense surveillance and vector control by using indoor residual sprays and long-lasting insecticide impregnated bednets. Community participation and IEC will be key components.

 
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, director general, Indian Council of Medical Research, said, “I am pleased that ICMR is partnering with Sun Pharma in a malaria elimination demonstration project - a high priority for us. This project aims to demonstrate that it is feasible to eliminate malaria from a high endemic district, and will hopefully become a pathfinder for the rest of the country. It is also a unique model of collaboration between the central and state governments, a private pharma company and ICMR, and could pave the way for more private investment in public health.”
 
Dilip Shanghvi, managing director, Sun Pharma, said, “Malaria endemic countries have shown significantly lower rates of economic growth. Through our Malaria Free India initiative, we aim to achieve zero malaria incidences in more than 1,200 villages of Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh by FY21. The experience gained from Mandla project will guide the development of broader plans for malaria elimination in Madhya Pradesh as well as other high malaria endemic states in India.”

 
For operationalising the Malaria Free India goals, Sun Pharma will establish a not-for-profit foundation, which will operate as an independent entity by engaging national and international experts as knowledge partners for the project while remaining accountable to the Malaria Free India PPP stakeholders.